Drumlanrig Castle

Today's the day .............................. to visit the 'Pink Palace'

Drumlanrig Castle is situated on the Queensberry Estate in Dumfries & Galloway in southwest Scotland. It is the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch.  Commonly known as the 'Pink Palace', it was built between 1679 and 1689 from distinctive pink sandstone and  is an example of late 17th-century Renaissance architecture.

The first Duke of Queensberry, William Douglas, had the castle built on the site of an ancient Douglas stronghold overlooking the Nith Valley. The castle has 120 rooms, 17 turrets and four towers.  In 1984, aerial photography revealed the outline of a substantial Roman fort some 350 yards to the southeast of the Castle. The fort was partially excavated in 2004 by the Time Team  television programme.

The gardens with their very formalised bedding and topiary, come into the 'slightly bizarre' category (Paula will understand!) - but there's a very good café and a great adventure playground which kept Tessa and her grandparents very well amused ................................